Illuminated miniature switch

ABSTRACT

The illuminated switch assembly includes a pair of contact plates arranged in juxtaposed relation to each other at the bottom of the switch body and a lamp means disposed between said contact plates, with a terminal of said lamp being extended out a short distance from the inner bottom of the assembly. This arrangement permits thinned switch structure and also permits the lamp to be located substantially in the center of the switch assembly so that when the lamp is lighted, light is distributed evenly to the actuator which is detachably mounted over said lamp means.

' United States Patent Appl. No Filed Patented Assignee ILLUMINATEDMINIATURE SWITCH 6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 200/167 A lnt. 1101119/18 Field of Search 200/167 A, 172 A, 172

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 5/1966 Sorenson 200/172 X3,267,248 8/1966 Bagley 200/172 A 3.435.169 3/1969 Bienwald et al.200/167 A FOREIGN PATENTS 634,195 2/1962 ltaly 200/167 A PrimaryExaminer-H. 0. Jones Atlorney- Lawrence 1. Field ABSTRACT: Theilluminated switch assembly includes a pair of contact plates arrangedin juxtaposed relation to each other at the bottom of the switch bodyand a lamp means disposed between said contact plates, with a terminalof said lamp being extended out a short distance from the inner bottomof the assembly. This arrangement permits thinned switch structure andalso permits the lamp to be located substantially in the center of theswitch assembly so that when the lamp is lighted, light is distributedevenly to the actuator which is detachably mounted over said lamp means.

ILLUMINATED MINIATURE SWITCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to improvements in switch means provided with a lampor lamps for visibly indicating the off and on or changeover conditionsof the switch contacts.

Conventionally, indication of the on-off or changeover conditions of theswitch contacts has resorted to such practice as inscribing or otherwiseaffixing lettering or a sign or signs on a plate attached to the frontof the switch assembly, or separately installing a lamp on a side oftheswitch assembly, thereby to indicate such conditions. However, in theformer case where such indication is simply made by lettering or sign ona plate, it is difficult to positively confirm such indication at oneglance, and in the latter case where a lamp is separately provided, asubstantial space is required on the surface of the switch panel forprovisions of such lamp. Also, since indicator and switch proper areseparated from each other, difficulty is encountered in achieving goodcorrespondence between each indicator and switch, particularly on apanel where a plurality of switches are installed in a comparativelyclosely spaced relationship.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to eliminate the above defects, thepresent invention proposes incorporation of a unique switch actuatormeans adapted to emit light of different colors by luminescence or bypresence or absence of such luminescence whereby the on and off orchangeover condition of the switch can be easily and clearly perceivedat a glance, in spite of the small falling angle of the actuator. Thepresent invention is also designed to simplify the component partsmounted on the panel to realize facilitation of the mounting operation.

The illuminated switch assembly of the present invention comprises anactuator means and a convertermeans which are molded separately and arearranged such that the leg portions of the actuator means is snuglyfitted on both sides of the converter means. The actuator means can beeasily demounted from the converter means whenever so desired. It isalso possible, after the parts were assembled into a finished switchstructure, to exchange the actuator, to change coloration of theactuator, or to replace the lamp with new one because of breakdown ofthe installed lamp or for change of lamp voltage, and all of thesepractices can be effected with extreme ease.

Thus, according to the present invention, it suffices to prepare aplurality of actuators having different predetermined colors and tosuitably exchange these actuators, and the desired arrangement ofswitches having desired indicating colors can be achieved by simplebutton-exchanging operation. The present invention thus can overcomeproblems resulting from the necessity, as in the conventional practice,to keep in stock all sorts of expensive switches of different indicativecolors such as red, blue, yellow, white, etc. Also, even after theswitches were incorporated into a switchboard or other panelling, it ispossible to freely exchange the indicating colorations with no need ofdisassembling the entire switch mechanism.

The illuminated switch assembly of the present invention also includes apair of contact plates arranged in juxtaposed relation to each other atthe bottom of the switch body, and a lamp means disposed between saidcontact plates, with a terminal of said lamp being extended out a shortdistance from the bottom of the assembly. This arrangement permits thelamp to be located substantially in the center of the switch assembly sothat when the lamp is lighted, light is distributed evenly to theactuator. Also, juxtaposed relationship between the contact plates andthe lamp permits somewhat thinned switch structure as compared withconventional devices, and also permits simple construction and easyassemblage, resulting as a whole in a compact structure. In conventionalilluminated switches, a switch contact section was provided at thebottom of the switch body and a lamp was located thereon, withconsequent result of increase of the switch thickness, and this was thelargest defect of the conventional switches of this type. Withminiaturization of industrial machines and instruments in recent yearsand corresponding complication of the internal mechanisms, strong demandis voiced for a switch which is thin and small. The present inventionhas realized miniaturization of the switch by arranging the lamp in themanner above and enabled adaptation of such switch in smallsizedmachinery.

The other features and advantages of the present invention will becomemore apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments ofthe present invention and the appended claims as taken with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective viewillustrating the structural relationship of the component members of theswitch assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the positionalrelationship between a slider, a converter and an actuator member foractuating the contact plates;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the contacted conditionof lamps and their terminals;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the switch case, with the actuator, converterand slider members being removed;

FIG. 5 is a schematic viewillustrating the positional relationshipbetween the lamp and the converter means employed in case only one lampis mounted between the contact plates on both sides;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the positional relationshipbetween the lamps and the converter means employed in case two lamps aremounted between the contact plates;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the converter means with two lampsmounted between the contact plates and with DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in more detailby way of its preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings. Aswill be noted, the switch assembly of the present invention comprises aswitchbox or casing, designated generally by number 10, in which areincorporated a converter member 33 adapted to actuate contact plates 36and an actuator member 30 adapted to permit rocking motion saidconverter member 33. In the center of the switch body 11 at the base ofthe switch case 10 is provided a terminal 12 which serves as fulcrum forthe movable contact plates 36, and on both sides of said terminal 12 areprovided similar terminal elements 13 arranged to be electricallycontracted with the first terminal 12 in accordance with rockinginclination of the movable contact plates. At the bottom of the switchbody are formed elongated parallel slots 14 through which the ends ofsaid terminals 12 and 13 protrude. The end of the terminal 12 isextended slightly longer than the ends of the terminals 13, and themovable contact elements 36 received in said slots are arranged to berockable in a seesaw like manner with the terminal l2 acting as fulcrum.There is also provided one or more grooves 15 between said slots of theswitch body 11 where the contact plates are received, and in this grooveor grooves there are inserted pilot lamp means 16 arranged to bemechanically and electrically contacted, in said groove or grooves 15,with terminals l7, 18 provided to extend downwardly from the bottom ofthe switch body 11 in the same manner as the aforementioned terminals 12and 13.

On the switch body 11 is mounted a cover member 19 in which saidactuator30 and converter 33, are housed. The cover member 19 may be of any knownconfiguration and is provided with mounting leaf springs 20 at bothsides thereof and outwardly perpendicularly bent flanges 21 at top endsof both sides thereof. {\lso, centrally at the top edges of said covermember are provided a pair of ears 22 each having a shaft-receivingopening.

The converter member 33 is of a configuration as best seen in FIGS. 1and to 8. It will be noted that the converter member 33 has a centralopening adapted to receive a pilot lamp or lamps l6 and also has at bothsides thereof the outwardly projecting lobes or shafts 35 adapted to bereceived in the respective openings in said ears 22 of the cover member.As best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5 and 7, the central opening of theconverter member 33 is rectangular and arranged such that the pilot lampor lamps 16 located therein will not hinder rocking motion of theconverter 33. This opening of the converter 33 may be divided by acentral partition wall 40 into two sections to accommodate two pilotlamps l6 housed therein, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In the center ofsaid partition wall is formed an extension 41 arranged such that the endthereof abuts against the top portion of the actuator 30 engaged withthe converter 33. In such arrangement, the light of the lighted pilotlamp will illuminate only one side of the actuator, thus allowing easierperception of the on and off or changeover conditions of the switch.

The converter member 33 is pivotally secured through its pivots 35received in the pivot-receiving opening in the cars 22 of said covermember, and at the bottom of the side frames of said member 33 areprovided holes 39 of a size sufficient to permit extending andretracting motion of the slider members 37. The slider member 37 areinserted into the respective holes 39 through the interposed springmeans 38 in such a manner that the bottom ends of the slider members areslidably pressed against the upper surface of said movable elements 36.The converter member 33, which is pivotally secured in this manner, isalso provided with engaging faces 34 on which are fitted the legportions 31 of the actuator member 30 having a curved top face.

The actuator member 30 is preferably composed of a plastic materialhaving suitable elasticity and is provided with the leg portions adaptedto be snugly engaged on the corresponding engaging faces of saidconverter member and with semicircular slots 32 adapted to seatthemselves astride of the pivots 35 of the converter member 33, so thatthe actuator member 30 is securely held to the converter member 33.

In this manner, it is possible to mount an actuator having any desiredcoloration in an extremely simple manner after the entire parts wereassembled in the switch case 10 to constitute a finished switchassembly. Also in case of breakdown of the actuator or trouble of thelamps installed in the assembly, or in any other case like that, theactuator may be easily and promptly removed for repair or for exchangewith new one, thus allowing easy maintenance of the best and desiredcondition of the assembly.

The number of the lamps to be placed between the juxtaposed movablecontact plates is not limited to two; it is possible to install only onelamp in the center of the movable contact plates as shown in FIGS. 5 and9.

While the present invention has been described by way of its preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that various changes andmodifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention which is to be defined only by the claims which follow.

What I claim is:

1. An illuminated miniature switch comprising contact plates and lampmeans which are arranged in juxtaposed relationship at the bottom of aswitch case, a converter member having a central opening and pivotallysecured to said switch case, said contact plates adapted to be actuatedby slider elements of said converter member, and an actuator memberdetachably mounted to said converter member.

2. An illuminated miniature switch according to claim 1, in which switchterminals and contact plates are provided at both sides of the bottomportion in the switch case, and a lamp base is provided between saidcontact plates.

3. An illuminated miniature switch according to claim 2, in which aplurality of lamp bases are provided between said contact plates.

4. An illuminated miniature switch according to claim 1, in which theconverter member is pivotally secured to the switch case through pivotstems provided at both sidewalls thereof.

5. An illuminated miniature switch according to claim 1 in which thecentral opening of the converter member is divided by a partition wallhaving provided thereon an extension adapted to contact the insidebottom portion of the actuator member, thereby forming two openings ofthe converter member for accommodating a lamp in each of them.

6. An illuminated miniature switch according to claim 1, in which theactuator member is provided with the downwardly extending leg portionssnugly fitted on the corresponding engaging faces of the convertermember.

1. An illuminated miniature switch comprising contact plates and lampmeans which are arranged in juxtaposed relationship at the bottom of aswitch case, a converter member having a central opening and pivotallysecured to said switch case, said contact plates adapted to be actuatedby slider elements of said converter member, and an actuator memberdetachably mounted to said converter member.
 2. An illuminated miniatureswitch according to claim 1, in which switch terminals and contactplates are provided at both sides of the bottom portion in the switchcase, and a lamp base is provided between said contact plates.
 3. Anilluminated miniature switch according to claim 2, in which a pluralityof lamp bases are provided between said contact plates.
 4. Anilluminated miniature switch according to claim 1, in which theconverter member is pivotally secured to the switch case through pivotstems provided at both sidewalls thereof.
 5. An illuminated miniatureswitch according to claim 1 in which the central opening of theconverter member is divided by a partition wall having provided thereonan extension adapted to contact the inside bottom portion of theactuator member, thereby forming two openings of the converter memberfor accommodating a lamp in each of them.
 6. An illuminated miniatureswitch according to claim 1, in which the actuator member is providedwith the downwardly extending leg portions snugly fitted on thecorresponding engaging faces of the converter member.